French defense chief urges fair US tanker deal

MILPLEX

by Staff Writers
Washington (AFP) March 3, 2009
French Defense Minister Herve Morin on Tuesday called for fair competition as Washington prepares to reopen bidding to US and European aerospace rivals on a lucrative contract to build a new air refueling tanker.

The 35-billion contract for a new generation of refueling tankers was awarded in February 2008 to Northrup Grumman and its European partner, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS), parent of Airbus.

But the deal was withdrawn in July after US aerospace giant Boeing successfully appealed the decision.

"I felt an obligation to mention the future call for tender regarding an American tanker," Morin told reporters at a joint press conference with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

Morin said he reminded his counterpart that an "opening had to be necessary in both directions," apparently a reference to US demands to open up European defense contracts to US-based firms.

"You can't be a great supplier of military equipment and at the same time consider there should not be a reciprocity," he said.

Gates in January said he hoped to reopen bidding in the spring on the tanker project, with a decision due in early 2010.

In September, the Defense Department canceled the competition, leaving the politically charged decision to the next president.

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS
Solar Energy Solutions
Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ...

Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News

MILPLEX

Analysis: European defense contracts

Brussels (UPI) Jan 26, 2009
French arms exports soared by almost 15 percent in 2008, the French government announced earlier this month. France hopes to further boost its international arms exports by finally creating overseas demand for its long-criticized Rafale fighter jet, manufactured by Dassault.

CIVIL NUCLEAR Kuwait to establish nuclear energy commission France to send massive nuclear fuel shipment to Japan Activists warn US lawmakers of uranium mining perils Jordan, Russia sign nuclear deal	CLIMATE SCIENCE EU confident Obama will follow its lead on climate change Underwater animals fart greenhouse gas: study Climate Change Heating Up Future Wars Part Two Wenchuan Earthquake Mudslides Emit Greenhouse Gas
FARM NEWS Chinese courts to accept milk-scandal cases: report UN report warns fishing industry on climate change Soybean Oil Reduces Carbon Footprint In Swine Barns Federal Research Program Should Realign Climate Change Priorities	FLORA AND FAUNA Faced with possible EU ban, Canada defends seal hunting Obama renews protection for endangered species Airborne Ecologists Help Balance Delicate African Ecosystem South Africa seeks homes for stray hippos
ROCKET SCIENCE NKorea under growing pressure to scrap rocket launch Scientists develop new plasma thruster MIT Rocket Aims For Cheaper Nudges In Space India's Cryogenic Engine Set For Integration With Rocket	NUCLEAR SPACE Nuclear Power In Space - Part 2 Outside View: Nuclear future in space Nuclear Power In Space
EARTH OBSERVATION GOES-O Satellite Arrives At KSC For Final Pre-Launch Testing Earth-Observing Landsat 5 Turns 25 Three ESA Earth Science Missions Move To Next Phase Satellite Data Provide New View Of Smoke From Wildfires	TECH SPACE Microsoft goes intercontinental via cloud and Surface Hit videogames have stories to tell Outside View: Radar shield at risk Russian General Says US May Have Planned Satellite Collision

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement